SEVERAL Eastern Cape towns were struck by rain and a powerful storm that killed two people.
The heavy rains and strong winds that began on Saturday, 29 July, left a trail of destruction in East London.
In Amalinda and Potsdam villages, two people were killed when their houses collapsed while they were asleep. The winds also blew away the roofs of clinics and hospitals.
Buffalo City Metro spokesman Samkelo Ngwenya confirmed the two deaths in their municipality.
"An elderly woman was declared dead at Ward 22 in Potsdam Village after a wall, and the roof collapsed while she was asleep. Another incident also on Sunday, 30 July, in Stoney Drift, Amalinda a tree fell on a shack in which two young men were sleeping," he said.
"Out of the 50 wards in the Metro, 28 wards have been affected, and the most affected ward is Ward 24. The most severe impact is related to houses destroyed or roofs blown away, electricity outages and blocked roads due to fallen trees," Ngwenya said.
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"BCM Multi-stakeholder teams will be busy throughout the day conducting damage assessments. Communities are warned not to attempt to repair or be in contact with fallen electricity wires that are hanging as this is dangerous but rather report these to the municipality," said Ngwenya.
East London resident Siyacela Wakeni said: "My newly constructed house was damaged by the strong winds. I have no idea how I will fix my house since I am surviving on piece jobs. As a result of the power outage since Saturday, 29 July, we have been unable to cook, as the wind prevented us from even making an open fire for cooking."
Provincial health department spokeswoman Yonela Dekeda said: "The department is still counting damages after some healthcare facilities roofs were blown away. The roofs in nine facilities across the province were blown away by strong winds. The tree also fell on an external water pipe at Lilitha Nursing College at Cecilia Makiwane Hospital in Mdantsane. This caused flooding outside because of the burst water pipe.
"Contingency plans were in place in the affected facilities. There have been no reported damages in Alfred Nzo, Joe Gqabi, Sarah Baartman, and Nelson Mandela Bay districts."
